Neighbors may have noticed some changes that have been made to the southern corridor of South Cedros Avenue. Newly planted palm trees and Mexican Seagrass along with bright, spring floral baskets now enhance the hardscape creating a colorful palette. This is the newly formed South Crossing, where Rosa Avenue meets South Cedros Avenue in Solana Beach.

While South Crossing is new to the neighborhood, it harkens back to a forgotten local history, said Sean McLeod, who is the creative mind behind the enhanced street corner. “This area is where neighbors used to pass to cross the tracks to get to Highway 101 and to the beach, before the railroad tracks were laid below street level,” he said. The Rosa Street bridge now spans that spot.

An inaugural evening event, Cheers! South Crossing, is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 15 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. It will commemorate South Crossing as the official gateway to the southern end of South Cedros Ave. and will bring together the community through jazz music, wine, food and friendship, said McLeod.

This is a ticketed wine tasting event for adults, which costs $25 in advance, payable online or at the store of a participating merchant, or $30 at the door on the evening of the event. The ticket price purchases a wristband which allows access to food, wine tasting and entry into the music area.

Attendees should check in at the parking lot where Ordover Gallery and Cokas Diko are located. At that location attendees will pick up a wristband and a name tag. “Then they will go to the next check point where they will get a program and a unique, stemless Govino wine tasting glass, that is theirs to keep,” said McLeod.

The space will be transformed into a candlelit gathering area with tables, chairs, and colorful umbrellas. Four vintners will have their respective tastings in tented booths creating a European-style ambiance.

Club Django Gypsy Jazz Guitars will perform live, and tasty bites of Onolicious Hawaiian pulled pork with pineapple salsa sliders, chicken kabobs, gyros pita and more will be available.

The event is co-hosted by Nature and Cultural International, a Del Mar-based charity that plays a central role in assisting indigenous, local, regional and national governments in Latin America protect more than 7.7 million acres of imperiled tropical forest ecosystems, areas of exceptional biodiversity and many threatened species.

This is the first of what will be once-a-month events starting next spring, and each will have a charity tie-in, said McLeod. “Looking ahead we will have a film festival, poetry readings, and lots of interesting activities centered around meeting with friends, making new friends and enjoying good food, fine wine and live music,” he added.

The four vintners at the tasting include Carruth Cellars, 12 Signs Winery, Tempus Alba, and Ancient Peaks Winery.

There will also be special event discounts and opportunity drawing prizes. Passion Fine Jewelry will offer a 10 percent discount on items purchased from the Alex Sepkus line of jewelry. Sticks and Stones Earrings by Alex Sepkus will be donated for an opportunity drawing, a $3,850 value. Weeds will donate two $250 gift certificates for the drawing and will also offer 25 percent off its full line of merchandise.

Cheers! South Crossing will take place at 412 South Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach, on Saturday, Oc. 15, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. To purchase tickets online visit